Knob-latch



.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J. (DOLBY, OF WATERBU'RY, VERMONT.

KNOB-LATCH.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,909, dated July 25, 1865.

To allrwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. CoLBY, of the town of Waterbury, in the county of Washington, State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Knob-Latches; and the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whichi Figure l represents a section through the mortlse-and-latch mechanism. Fig. 2 shows the edge view ofthe door with latch-plate and knobs, the positions for opening in redy and blue lines.` Fig. 3 represents a bolt, and the mechanism so placed as to work it laterally. Fig. 4 shows a knob-plate.

The object of my invention is to have a universal knob-latch that can be operated to open the door on either side by pressing the knob down or lifting it up, as well as turning it in either direction; or the latch may be so constructed that the latch forms a bolt, and the knob pressed in either direction horizontally or semi-rotated to openv the door, as seen in Fig. 2.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the knob-bar, caps, and latch-bolt, so that by turning the knob either way or pressing it up or down or laterally it will release the latch or bolt-catch and allow the door to open. A

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my universal s'ureacting door-knob latch, I will describe it more fully, referring to the drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereop.

A small, neat mortisedock frame, A, is titted into the edge ot' the door B and secured by screws in the usual manner. The latch C, as seen in Fig. 1, extends out through the opening c in the flush-plate a, the opening c being elongated to allowthe latch to rise up out of a catch, the latch C vbeing hung on a v pivot, e, near thel inner end of the lock-frame A, and extends beyond the frame into the mortise D a sufticient distance for the cani d to act upon it, so that by turning the knob either way the latch will be depressed at the inner end, which causes it to lift up at the end b.

0n both sides of the door B are secured convex plates E E, the hole F through the center being elongated on one side, so that the shaft structed as shown in Fig. 3, the knobs G G,

shaft f, and cam d being precisely the same, the convex plates E E only being put onto the door, with the holes F horizontal instead of vertical, the sliding bolt H being litted close in the frame A, the rear end, h, so shaped that the cam d draws the holt in by turning the knob or moving it either Way laterally.

a Most persons have at times experienced great inconvenience in opening doors with the ordinary knob-latches. If the hand is wet or even moist with perspiration, it is often diffi- .cult to grasp the knob suiiiciently tight to move the latch; and ifa person has both hands occupied it is impossible to open a door Without laying down or relieving the hand; and a person disabled or maimed in one or both hands must experience great inconvenience in getting from one room to another.

By mynniversal-acting knob-latch it will readily be seen that I have remedied every diiculty. If a person has but the stump of an arm, he can open the` door; or by pressing any portion of the body against the knob the latch is relieved. So the door may be opened it' both hands are wet or full without stopping to lay down anything or using great effort, as

a slight pressure, either laterally or up or down, will effect the purpose of relieving the latch.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patnt, is-

The knob-shaft and cam, in combination with the convex plates on both sides of the door, so constructed as to form the lever and ulcrum to operate thelatch or bolt, as herein described.

- GEO. J. COLBY. Witnesses:

J oHN S. HoLLtNGsHEAD,

J. B. WOODRUFF. 

